Should you buy the new DJI Mavic Mini?

November 3, 2019

Mavic Mini dubbed as the “Everyday Flycam” is the smallest
and lightest drone in the DJI drones line up. Weighing at just 249g, Mavic Mini
size is comparable to an iphone and can easily be put in your pocket. Talk
about portability! There is no FAA registration required for Mavic Mini. The
caveat here is that if you install propeller guards on Mavic Mini, FAA
registration may be required since drone will weigh more than 250g.What is also
impressive is that drone has flight time of 30 minutes in a single charge that
is rare to see for drones under $500. The drone is GPS enabled and also has
altitude hold (precise hover). A special mention must be made for the DJI Fly
app that has flight tutorial for beginner pilots, pre-installed templates for
video editing so that users can easily share videos across social media
platforms.

The Good:

Pricing as the drone starts at $399

Compact, portable and ultra light

30 minutes of flight time

Easy for pilots of different skill level via DJI
Fly app

4 km transmission distance

360 degree Propeller Guards

The Bad:

Misses on 4k video

Propeller guards should be part of Standard

No obstacle sensors

No internal storage

Camera: Mavic Mini is equipped with 1 /2.3-inch CMOS sensor
camera with 12 MP pixels. The drone can
record videos at resolution of 2.7k at 30fps. The camera is supported by 3-axis
gimbal for stable footage. There is no zoom capability.

Flight Quality and Modes: The maximum flight time for DJI Mavic Mini is 30 minutes however that is under a tested environment. You can reduce couple of minutes at least with wind conditions. The maximum speed for the drone is 13m/s available in sports mode.

The drone has Quickshot mode (Dronie, Circle, Helix, and
Rocket). What this implies is that drone will move based on pre-set movement
and capture video. Mavic Mini also has CineSmooth Mode. The drone supports
single shot and interval photo modes.

Remote Controller: The Drone comes with a dedicated remote controller, which has battery capacity of 2600 mAh. With the DJI charger, it will take 2 hours to charge the remote controller. The maximum transmission distance for the remote controller is 4km. However the distance is dependent on the mode, and other factors as well. The remote controller can be connected to mobile phone for live video feed.

Mavic Mini Spec Sheet:

Camera: 12 MP

Sensor: 1 /2.3” CMOS

Video Resolution: 2.7k at 30fps

Takeoff Weight: 249g

Dimensions: 140x82x57 mm (folded)

Max Speed: 13 m/s (sports mode)

Max Flight Time: 30 minutes

Max Wind Speed Resistance: 8 m/s (Scale 4)

Operating Temperature Range: 0º – 40ºC

Internal Storage: None

Editors Note: DJI Mavic Mini is a great choice for
recreational photography. Drone photography is fun and dynamic, and that is the
reason why DJI launched Mavic Mini. It is a ultra light drone for everyday user
for capturing your neighborhood, vacations, and all the special moments. It is
also a drone for kids evolving from toy drones. At $399, the drone packs a
punch with a lot of features and is definitely a recommended buy from the
Drone-HQ team.